Universal drilling machine

ABSTRACT

A borer comprises a hammer, a spindle connected to rotate with a rotatable table, and a vibrator connected between the hammer and a support for vibrating the hammer. The spindle is free to rotate with respect to the support. A flexible coupling is arranged between the support and the table.

[451 Jan. 22, 1974 United States Patent [191 Jodet et al.

[ UNIVERSAL DRILLING MACHINE References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSInventors: Alain Jodet; Hubert Noret, both of Angers; JacquesDemichelis, Paris, all of France [73] Assignee:

Etat Francais, represented by Ministere de IEquipement et du Logement,Laboratoire Central Des Ponts Et Chaussees, Paris, France Apr. 25, 1972734,575 8/1955 Great Britain.....1.................. 173/49 [22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser [211 .App] No 247 278 Attorney, Agent,or FirmThomas B. Van Poole et al.

- [57] ABSTRACT A borer comprises a hammer, a spindle connected to [30]Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 30, 1971 France 7115694 rotatewith a rotatable table, and a vibrator connected between the hammer anda support for vibrating the a [52] US. 173/49, 173/28, 173/105, hammerThe Spindle is free to rotate with respect to 173/114 the su pport. Aflexible coupling 15 arranged between [51] Int. E2lc 1/12 the Supportandthe table. [58] Field of Search173/49, 48, 115, 114, 105-108;

- 175/55, 56 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENIEU JAN 2 2 IBM SHEET 10F 2 PAIENTED JAN 2 219?;

SHEET 2 [IF 2 UNIVERSAL DRILLING MACHINE The present invention relatesto borers. Conventional borers are of several types depending upon thenature of the material, for example, soil,

which it is desired to bore. Thus, when taking core samples in softground, a borer which applies a static thrust to a drilling tool isused. Such a borer may be driven al ternately from either side of a meanposition in order to obtain what is generally called a tacking" effect.

Other borers are used for boring more or less hard material. One suchborer comprises a vibrating part, the vibrations of which are generatedmechanically or electromagnetically. In this case boring is accomplishedeither by purely vertical movement or by vertical movement combined withtorsional movementof a drilling tool. Another conventional borercomprises a rotating part, for example, a rotating table, rigidlyconnected with a spindle on which is mounted a succession of rods at theend of which there is a drilling tool. In this case, the boring isaccomplished by the rotating part, possibly, assisted by thrust forces.

These conventional borers do not lend themselves readily to boring allkinds of materials. Moreover, it is very often necessary, during thecourse of sinking a hole, to change the drilling tool when strata whichdiffer in composition are encountered. The result of these disadvantagesis a considerable loss of time and the expenditure of a considerablelabour effort.

Furthermore, the conventional borers are heavy, occupy a considerablespace, and it is essential to have a source of considerable power tooperate them.

The present invention seeks to provide a borer which does not have thedisadvantages of the conventional borer and which can be used to boreinto all kinds of materials.

According to the present invention, there is provided a borercomprising: percussion means; a spindle connected to a rotatable table;vibrator means connected with the percussion means and a support membermounted on the spindle, the spindle being free to rotate with respect tothe support member; and flexible coupling means arranged between thesupport member and Means for driving the borer may be disposed adjacentto the table.

Preferably, the spindle .is axially movable with respect to the table.

The support member may have a flange disposed about the spindle, bearingmeans being disposed therebetween, the said flange having at least onesupport means for the flexible coupling means. Resilient means may beprovided between the vibrator means and the flange.

Preferably the resilient means are such that, in operation, thefrequency of vibration of the vibrator means and the percussion means isgreater than the inherent frequency of vibration of the table.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a borer according to the presentinvention, mounted on a vehicle, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the borer of FIG. 1.

FIG. I shows diagrammatically a borer according to the present inventionmounted on a vehicle 1. A hydraulic unit 2 arranged to be driven by anengine (not shown) of the vehicle, is mounted thereon. A control panel3, whose controls are mainly electrical, is likewise provided on thevehicle. The control panel permits the borer to be manually orautomatically controlled. A positioning apparatus is located on thevehicle. The positioning apparatus may assume a working position (shownin heavy lines) or an inoperative position (shown in'dotted lines) fortransport purposes. The positioning apparatus includes a jack 4 pivotedat 5 to the vehicle. A rod 6 of the jack is rigidly connected to anangle plate 7 which, in turn, is fixed to a mast 8 arranged to guide andsupport a borer 9. The plate 7 is connected by way of a jack 10 to alever 11 pivoted on an angle plate 12 which is also fixed to the mast 8.

On both the plate 7 and the lever 11 are provided two pulleys 13, 14respectively. A traction cable 15 passes over these pulleys and isconnected to a winch 16 mounted on the vehicle 1. A stabilising jack 17is rigidly mounted on the vehicle 1. On the rod of the jack 17 are means18 for retaining a train of rods 19 and a boring or drilling tool. (notshown). I

At the topof the mast 8 is a pulley 20 over which passes a cable orchain 21. The chain 21 is fixed at 24 to the borer 9 and'passes over oneor a plurality of pulleys 22 carried by an angle plate 23 pivotallymounted on the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the borer 9 comprises a rotating table 25 consistingof a casing 26 inside which is a gear wheel 27. The gear wheel 27 mesheswith a gear wheel 28 of smaller diameter. The gear wheel 28 is mountedon a driving spindle 29 which is supported from the casing 26 by ballbearings 30. The spindle 29 is rotated by a hydraulic axial pistonengine 31 of variable capacity. The engine 31 is fed by a pump which islikewise of variable capacity. The capacities of the pump and of theengine 31 may be remotely controlled by one and the same single controlmeans (not shown). Thus, it is possible to vary the speed of rotation ofthe spindle 29 over a wide range whilst always using the maximum powerproduced by the main engine, for example, that of the vehicle.

The gear wheel 27 is mounted on a drive shaft 32 within which there is ahollow spindle 33. The drive shaft 32 is rigidly supported from a casingby means of a plurality of roller bearings 36. On its outer periphery,the spindle 33 has splines 34 adapted to cooperate with splines 35provided on the inside surface of the drive shaft 32. Thus, the spindle33 is capable of axial displacement with respect to the gear wheel 27and, therefore, with respect to the table 25, and yet it is rotated bythe gear wheel 27.

The spindle 33 is connected to a body 37 extending from a solid annularflange 38 by means of roller bearmember 44. On either side of the flange38 rubber washers 45 are fitted onto each rod 42. Axial movement of theflange 38 is limited by stops 43a, 44a on the respective boss end 43,and by the thrust members 44.

Screwed into each of four holes 41 is one end of a rod 46. A spring 47,of a stiffness different from that of a plurality of washers 49,surrounds each rod 46. The springs 47 workin a traction-compressionmanner and are disposed in such a way that adjacent springs are ofopposite hand.

Each spring 47 is fixed at its one end to a ring 48 rigidly connectedwith the flange 38 and at its other end to a ring 49 rigidly connectedwith a casing 52 of a vibrator 50. The casing 52 likewise comprises aring 51 through which the rods 46 pass and on which the vibrator 50 iscapable of being guided and retained in position by means of nuts 53. Inthis way, it is possible to control the distance between the vibrator 50and the annular flange 38. I

The vibrator Si) is constituted by the casing 52 which is traversed bytwo parallelshafts 54, 55. The shafts 54, 55 rotate in oppositedirections and each carries an eccentric member 56, 57 respectively. Theshafts 54, 55 are driven by one or more hydraulic motors (not shown)coupled together mechanically. The speed of rotation of the hydraulicmotors can be regulated with accuracy. The shape of each eccentricmember 56, 57 is adjusted to obtain a maximum kinetic moment for a givenweight and yet a minimum size for the vibrator 50. For this purpose,each eccentric member is constituted by a steel matrix in which smallcylinders of a very heavy metal, such 'as, for example, calcinedtungsten carbide or uranium lead, are housed symmetrically with respectto the axis of rotation. Thus, by aligning the vibrator 50 and thespindle 33, it is possible to ensure that the forces produced byvibration of the vibrator 50 are parallel to the axis of the spindle, inorder to derive maximum advantage from the vibration. Screwed with aslight pitch into a lower part 58 rigidly mounted to the casing 52, is astriker or hammer member 60. The connection between the casing 52 andthe part 58 is strengthened by two reinforcing plates 59.

The hammer 60 is driven by a hydraulic motor 61 cated above the vibrator50 and an axially sliding rod 62 fitted with splines 63 which engagecorresponding splines in the part 58. The rod 62 is coaxial with thespindle 33.

The hammer member 60 has a head 64 housed in a cavity 65 provided in'theupper part of the spindle 33. The head 64 has an annular rebated edge66. By virtue of the rod 62, it is possible instantly to regulate thedistance between an end face 64a of the head 64 and the adjacent surfaceof the cavity 65. This adjacent surface is at least partially covered bya treated metal pad 67.

in operation, when the hammer member 60 is sufficiently close to the pad67, a regular striking procedure is established, and this strikingprocedure tends to move the spindle 33 axially. This causesconsequential movement of the train of rods 19 and the drilling too]itself. However, in view of the fact that the washers 45 I haveconsiderable flexibility with respect to the springs 47, used to suspendthe vibrator 50, with the result that the frequency of inherentvibration of the assembly suspended by the springs is very small withrespect to the frequency of vibration of the vibrator 50, it followsthat only a very small part of the inherent vibration is transmitted tothe casing 26.

A part of the cavity 65 is closed over the head 64 of the hammer member60 and has, on its surface adjacent the head, a treated metal part 69.Thus upward movement of the head is reversed by successive impacts ofthe edge 66 on the metal part 69.

The lower end of the spindle 33 is provided with screw threading 70 forconnection with the train of rods 19 or the drilling tool. A rotatableconnector 71 has a passageway 72 therein which is arranged to bepositioned opposite an orifice 73 provided in the spindle 33. it isthrough the passageway 72 that flushing liquid passes when necessary.The connector 71 is resiliently mounted by an elastic lbock 74 from aconnecting piece 75 fixed to the casing 26.

It will be appreciated that all the operations performed by conventionalborers may be performed by the borer described above.

If the vibrator 50 is locked to the rods 46 and the head 64 ispositioned in the cavity 65 so that the amplitude of virabation of thevibrator is such that there is not contact between either the head 64and the pad 67, or the edge 66 and the part 69, then all the vibrationof the vibrator is transmitted to the spindle 33 via the rods 46, theflange 38 and the bearings 39. in many cases,'this vibration may besufficient to cause penetration of the drilling tool in contact withmaterial, for example, soil, to'be drilled.

Similarly, it is possible to'drill through soil merely by rotation ofthe spindle or by such rotation in combination with vibration of thehammer member 60.

It should be noted that, by virtue of the stops 43a, 44a, the vibrator50 is protected against excessive static thrust forces.

We claim:

l. A universal drilling machine comprising percussion means, a rotaryspindle mounted on a table to be engaged by said percussion means, asupport member supportingly mounted on the rotary spindle for freerotation with respect to the rotary spindle, vibrator means connected tothe percussion means and the support member, and flexible coupling meansarranged between the support member and the table and driving means forsaid percussion means, said vibrator means and said spindle.

2. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidspindle is axially movable with respect to the table.

3. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which thesupport member has a flange disposed about the spindle and includingbearing means disposed between the said flange and said spindle whereinsaid flange includes a portion supportingly engaged with the flexiblecoupling means;

4. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 including stopmeans for limiting axial movement of said flange with respect to saidtable.

5. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which thevibrator means is positionably guided by a plurality of rods along whichthe vibrator means is capable of being retainably positioned by nuts.

6. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which thevibrator means rests on the support means by means of a plurality ofsprings surrounding guide rods extending from the support means.

7. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saiddriving means comprises hydraulic driving means of variable capacity.

8. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidflexible coupling means comprise shock absorbing surrounding rodsextending from the clearance openings in the flange of the supportmeans'and stop means on the rod means on the side of the flange oppositesaid table, said washers being disposed on either side of said flange.

12. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 11 in which thehead is screwed to the vibrator means and a bore extends through thehead mounted in said bore to move coaxially with respect to the spindlewithin said bore and a driving motor connected to said rod for axiallypositioning the rod with respect to the spindle.

13. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 11 including acavity in the spindle, the percussion head being axially displaceablewithin the cavity.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE CEH'EEFHJATE GE {1U HE E (1T1 UN Januairy22, 1974 Patent No. 3 I 786 I Dated Alain Jodet et al f Inventor(s) Itis certified that errqr appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

, a rod is is inserted Column 6, line 3,

after "head".

Column 6, line 5, --is is inserted after ."motor".

Signed and sealed this 11th day ofiFebruary 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

- C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON v Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer and Trademarks USCOMM-DC 603764 69 ORM PO-1050 (10-69) u.s.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334,

Patent No.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,786,874 DatedJanuary 22,1974

Invento.r( s) Alain. Jodet 6t a1 It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 62, v 1ashers is insertedafter "absorbing". I I I Signedand" Sealed this 19th d y qf, November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest McCOY M'. IGIBSO N JR. Attesting Officer -c. MARSHALL DANNCommissioner of Patents -'ORM PO-105O (10 69) v ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE "I! 0-356-381,

1. A universal drilling machine comprising: percussion means, a rotaryspindle mounted on a table to be engaged by said percussion means, asupport member supportingly mounted on the rotary spindle for freerotation with respect to the rotary spindle, vibrator means connected tothe percussion means and the support member, and flexible coupling meansarranged between the support member and the table and driving means forsaid percussion means, said vibrator means and said spindle.
 2. Auniversal drilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said spindleis axially movable with respect to the table.
 3. A universal drillingmachine as claimed in claim 1 in which the support member has a flangedisposed about the spindle and including bearing means disposed betweenthe said flange and said spindle wherein said flange includes a portionsupportingly engaged with the flexible coupling means.
 4. A universaldrilling machine as claimed in claim 1 including stop means for limitingaxial movement of said flange with respect to said table.
 5. A universaldrilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the vibrator means ispositionably guided by a plurality of rods along which the vibratormeans is capable of being retainably positioned by nuts.
 6. A universaldrilling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the vibrator means restson the support means by means of a plurality of springs surroundingguide rods extending from the support means.
 7. A universal drillingmachine as claimed in claim 1 in which said driving means compriseshydraulic driving means of variable capacity.
 8. A universal drillingmachine as claimed in claim 1 in which said flexible coupling meanscomprise shock absorbing surrounding rods extending from the clearanceopenings in the flange of the support means and stop means on the rodmeans on the side of the flange opposite said table, said washers beingdisposed on either side of said flange.
 9. A universal drilling machineas claimed in claim 1 additionally including resilient connecting meansprovided between the vibrator means and the flange of said supportmember.
 10. A universal drilling machine as claimed in claim 9 in whichthe resilient means comprises a plurality of springs, adjacent springsbeing of opposite hand.
 11. A universal drilling machine as claimed inclaim 1 in which the percussion means includes a head, and means foradjusting the distance between the head and the spindle.
 12. A universaldrilling machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the head is screwed tothe vibrator means and a bore extends through the head mounted in saidbore to move coaxially with respect to the spindle within said bore anda driving motor connected to said rod for axially positioning the rodwith respect to the spindle.
 13. A universal drilling machine as claimedin claim 11 including a cavity in the spindle, the percussion head beingaxially displaceable within the cavity.